Cooling device

ABSTRACT

Preventing the flow of the ambient air into the cabinet ( 2 ) by closing the discharge pipe ( 4 ) under normal conditions, balancing the cabinet ( 2 ) interior pressure by opening into the cabinet ( 2 ) from the side of the ambient air when the cabinet ( 2 ) interior pressure drops and discharging the water in the cabinet ( 2 ) especially after defrosting, outside of the cabinet ( 2 ) is accomplished by utilizing the valve ( 5 ) which is the object of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a valvewhich provides the balancing of the pressure imbalanced during opening,closing of the door and discharging the water created especially duringthe defrost process.

Cooling device of the current state-of-the-art comprises a coolingcabinet and a door which is attached to the cooling cabinet, to beopened or closed by the help of a hinge, providing access to the coolingcabinet. The cooling cabinet is insulated from the outer surroundings ina leak-proof manner when the door is closed. Frosting occurs around theevaporator during the cooling process. This frost is melted by variousdefrost methods, the melted water is discharged with the help of a drainpipe, one end of which opens into the cooling cabinet and the other tothe outside of the cabinet, that is to the ambient atmosphere. The waterdischarged to outside of the cabinet is transferred to a collector unitsituated preferably in the section of the cooling device where thecompressor cabinet is positioned.

In cooling devices where forced air circulation is made especially by afan, when the door is opened/closed, the fan starts operating and drawsthe air towards the evaporator, causing the pressure inside the cabinetto drop results in a vacuum effect in the cabinet. An additional forceneeds to be exerted to overcome this pressure difference between theinside and the outside of the cooling cabinet when the door of thecooling cabinet is desired to be opened again.

Furthermore the discharge pipe discharging the water collected in thecooling cabinet is the only exit passage of the cabinet to theatmosphere. As a vacuum is formed inside the cabinet due to the openingand closing of the door or other causes, air is sucked into the cabinetfrom the end of the discharge pipe opening to the ambient atmosphere. Ifthe amount of water in the discharge pipe or in the collecting unitwhere the end of the discharge pipe opens is more than enough, water andair is sucked into the cabinet until the cabinet pressure is inequilibrium with the atmospheric pressure. During this involuntaryprocess, the noise generated by the air and water mixture flowingthrough the discharge pipe can reach a level that is annoying to theuser.

The discharge pipe being the only place that is open to the ambientatmosphere while the door of the cabinet is closed, will also result intemperature and pressure abnormalities in the cooling cabinet, inaddition to all the above explained adversities.

In the current state of the art, the discharge pipe is made in a “U”shape so that some amount of water stays in the pipe—especially waterfrom the defrost process—preventing the air which is comparably warmerthan the cooling cabinet medium to flow into the cooling cabinet fromthe end of the discharge pipe that is open to atmospheric pressure,disrupting the temperature and pressure balance of the cabinet. Howeverthe entrapping of water in the “U” shaped discharge pipe prevents theflow of air into and out of the cabinet. Since the flow of air from theambient atmosphere into the cabinet to eradicate the pressure imbalanceis blocked by the water entrapped in the discharge pipe, as a result thepressure imbalance in the cabinet can not be adjusted and opening thecooling device door requires the exertion of a larger force.

In the current state of the art, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,514, adescription is given of a refrigerator comprising a “U” shaped dischargepipe and a one way valve positioned above the maximum level of thetrapped water, wherein the valve allows the flow from the atmosphere tothe inside of the food storage compartment. While an air inflow from theend of the discharge pipe open to the atmosphere towards the end openinginto the compartment is prevented by the water accumulated in the “U”shaped pipe, the imbalance of pressure created by the opening, closingof the refrigerator door is also prevented by the valve on the sidesurface of the discharge pipe opening into the compartment which staysopen until the compartment pressure is in equilibrium with theatmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the noise generated during the flowof the above explained air-water mixture through the discharge pipe isalso prevented by this valve.

Another embodiment of the current state of the art is described in theU.S. Pat. No. 5,557,942. In this embodiment, a chamber where some amountof water is collected and a by-pass air passage between the water drainconduit and said chamber is described. In an alternative embodiment ofthis patent document the description is given for a movable closuredevice that rises or falls, acting as a float, in response to the levelof trapped water inside the chamber to close the said air passageopening to the ambient air.

The object of the present invention is to design a cooling devicecomprising a valve which prevents the temperature and pressureabnormalities inside the cooling cabinet and also provides thedischarging of especially the defrost water.

The cooling device designed to fulfill the objective of the presentinvention is shown in the attached figures where:

FIG. 1—is the schematic view of a cooling device.

FIG. 2—is the schematic top view of a valve.

FIG. 3—is the schematic top view of a flap valve.

FIG. 4—is the schematic view of a valve when it is in closed position.

FIG. 5—is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet interiorpressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 6—is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid collected in thecabinet is discharged.

FIG. 7—is the schematic view of a valve comprising a stopper.

FIG. 8—is the schematic view of a valve in a closed position in analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9—is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet interiorpressure is lower than atmospheric pressure in an alternative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10—is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid collected inthe cabinet is discharged in an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11—is the schematic view of a valve comprising a stopper in analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12—is the schematic view of a valve in closed position attached tothe discharge pipe by snap-fitting method.

FIG. 13—is the schematic view of a valve attached to the discharge pipeby snap-fitting method when the cabinet interior pressure is lower thanatmospheric pressure.

FIG. 14—is the schematic view of a valve attached to the discharge pipeby snap-fitting method while the fluid collected in the cabinet is beingdischarged.

Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

-   1. Cooling device-   2. Cooling cabinet-   3. Door-   4. Discharge pipe-   5. Valve-   6. First flap valve-   7. Second flap valve-   8. Opening-   9. Stopper-   100., 101. Hinge

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises one or morecooling cabinets (2) where items to be cooled are stored, a door (3)serving to close the cooling cabinet (2) and allowing the user to accessthe items stored inside the cooling cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4)one end of which opens into the cooling cabinet (2) and the other endoutside the cooling cabinet (2), a valve (5) positioned inside and/orover the dischargepipe (4) , opening and/or closing the discharge pipe(4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the cooling cabinet (2)thereby balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure and at the same timeproviding the discharge of fluid collected in the cabinet (2), waterresulting from defrost process for example, outside of the cabinet (2)(FIG. 1).

The valve (5) comprises, each moving independently in differentdirections, a first flap valve (6) opening and/or closing the dischargepipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the cabinet (2) viathe discharge pipe (4) when opened, and a second flap valve (7) on whichthe first flap valve (6) is mounted, moving to open in the oppositedirection of the opening direction of the first flap valve (6),providing the discharge of the fluid in the cabinet (2) out of thecabinet (2) via the discharge pipe (4) (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first and asecond flap valve (6 and 7), one inserted into the other, is utilized inthe valve (5). In this embodiment, the valve (5) comprises a hinge (100)providing the attachment of the second flap valve (7) on the inner wallof the discharge pipe (4), an opening (8) on the second flap valve (7)which is the first flap valve (6) opens, closes, and a hinge (101)providing the attachment of the first flap valve (6) on the second flapvalve (7) (FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).

The hinges (100 and 101) which movably attach the second flap valve (7)to the wall of the discharge pipe (4) to be opened or closed, andmovably attach the first flap valve (6) on the second flap valve (7) tobe opened or closed, allows the first and second flap valves (6 and 7)to be opened or closed with a minimum amount of force exerted on them.

The second flap valve (7) opens towards the atmosphere in the directionof the gravitational force as a result of the weight of the watercollected on it. The second flap valve (7) is formed in conformity withthe structure of the discharge pipe (4) (FIG. 6, FIG. 10 and FIG. 14).

The first flap valve (6) opens towards the interior of the cabinet (2)in the direction of the air flow formed from high pressure side to lowpressure when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is lower thanatmospheric pressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG. 13).

Each of the first flap valve (6) and the second flap valve (7) can moveindependently. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thesecond flap valve (7) can be opened when the first flap valve (6) isclosed, and the first flap valve (6) can be opened when the second flapvalve (7) is closed.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve (5)comprises a stopper (9) situated on the inner wall of the dischargepipe(4) preventing the second flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall ofthe discharge pipe (4) to move in a direction from the atmospheretowards the inside of the cabinet (2) (FIG. 7 and FIG. 11). The stopper(9) avoids the second flap valve (7) from opening in the otherdirection, that is, towards the inside of the cabinet (2).

The valve (5), preferably positioned on the end of the discharge pipe(4) that opens to the atmosphere, prevents the flow of the air into thecabinet (2) from the open end of the discharge pipe (4) by closing thedischarge pipe (4) entirely since it is in a closed position undernormal conditions, i.e., when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is inequilibrium and when there is no fluid flowing in the discharge pipe (4)from the cabinet (2), when both of the first flap valve (6) and thesecond flap valve (7) are closed. Thus the unbalancing of the cabinet(2) interior temperature and the cabinet (2) interior pressure by theinflow of ambient air which is warmer than the cabinet (2) interior isprevented (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).

The first flap valve (6) which is situated in the valve (5) that isnormally in a closed position, opens without resisting to the inflow ofatmospheric air that is higher in pressure compared to the cabinet (2)interior pressure and allows the inflow of air into the cabinet (2) whenthe cabinet (2) interior pressure drops below the atmospheric pressuredue to the opening, closing of the cooling device (1) door (3) or forany other reason. The air flows in through the end of the discharge pipe(4) opening to the ambient air into the discharge pipe (4), flowingthrough the gap opened by the first flap valve (6) and reaches insidethe cabinet (2) from the end of the discharge pipe (4) extending intothe cabinet (2) in this case. This inflow of air goes on until thecabinet (2) interior pressure reaches the level of the atmosphericpressure, the first flap valve (6) closes the discharge pipe (4) anddisallows more air inflow into the cabinet (2) when the pressure exertedon the first flap valve (6) is lifted because the inflow of air stops iswhen the cabinet (2) interior pressure is equalized with the atmosphericpressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG. 13).

When there is any fluid that must be discharged from the cabinet (2) forvarious reasons , —water after defrost process, for example—this fluidis transferred to the discharge pipe (4) to be discharged out of thecabinet (2). The fluid reaching the discharge pipe (4) flows through thedischarge pipe (4) and collects over the valve (5) which is in a closedposition under normal conditions. The second flap valve (7) actuatesaround its end attached to the valve (5) and opens to discharge thefluid out of the cabinet (2) through the discharge pipe (4) when theamount of the accumulated fluid on the second flap valve (7) and thefirst flap valve (6) situated on the valve (5) increases (FIG. 6, FIG.10 and FIG. 14).

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the valve (5) isattached to the end of the discharge pipe (4) by snap-fitting method.The valve (5) is produced of preferably rubber material and the firstand second flap valves (6 and 7) open, close owing to the elasticfeature of the material only, without the need to use any hinges. Inthis embodiment the valve (5) is produced in one-piece, the opening,closing of the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) is accomplished bychanging the thickness of the material on the sections of the valve (5)and the discharge pipe (4) where the first and second flap valves (6 and7) will be attached, whereby these sections with changed materialthickness act as hinges (FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14).

Preventing the inflow of ambient air into the cabinet (2) by closing thedischarge pipe (4) under normal conditions, balancing the cabinet (2)interior pressure by opening into the cabinet (2) from the side of theambient air when the cabinet (2) interior pressure drops and dischargingthe water in the cabinet (2) outside of the cabinet (2) especially afterdefrosting is accomplished by utilizing the valve (5), the object of thepresent invention.

1. A cooling device (1) comprising one or more cooling cabinets (2)where items to be cooled are stored, a door (3) serving to close thecooling cabinet (2) and allowing the user to access the items storedinside the cooling cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4) one end of whichextends into the cooling cabinet (2) and the other end outside thecooling cabinet (2), and characterized by a valve (5), having a firstflap valve (6) opening into the discharge pipe (4), allowing the inflowof ambient air into the cabinet (2) and a second flap valve (7) on whichthe first flap valve (6) is mounted, moving in the opposite direction ofthe opening direction of the first flap valve (6), providing thedischarge of fluid in the cabinet (2) out of the cabinet (2), openingand/or closing the discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambientair into the cooling cabinet (2) thereby balancing the cabinet (2)interior pressure and providing the discharge of fluid collected in thecabinet (2) outside of the cabinet (2).
 2. A cooling device (1) as inclaim 1, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6)and a second flap valve (7), one inserted into the other.
 3. A coolingdevice (1) as in claim 2, characterized by a valve (5) comprising asecond flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe(4) by a hinge (100).
 4. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2 or 3,characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7) havingan opening (8) on it.
 5. A cooling device (1) as in claim 4,characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6) mountedon the second flap valve (7) by a hinge (101), opening or closing theopening (8) on the second flap valve (7) by moving independently fromthe second flap valve (7).
 6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of theabove claims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flapvalve (7) which opens to the atmosphere as a result of the weight of thewater collected over it.
 7. A cooling device (1) as in any one of theabove claims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve(6) which opens towards the interior of the cabinet (2) in the directionof the air inflow formed from the high pressure side to the low pressureside, when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is lower than theatmospheric pressure.
 8. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the aboveclaims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a stopper (9) on theinner wall of the discharge pipe (4), which prevents the second flapvalve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4) moving ina direction from the atmosphere towards the inside of the cabinet (2).9. A cooling device (1) as in any claim 1, characterized by a valve (5)attached on the discharge pipe (4) by snap-fitting method.
 10. A coolingdevice (1) as in claim 9, characterized by a valve (5) produced as asingle-piece.
 11. A cooling device (1) as in claim 9 or 10,characterized by a valve (5) in which the opening, closing of the firstand second flap valves (6 and 7) is accomplished by changing thethickness of the material on the sections where the first and secondflap valves (6 and 7) are attached, whereby these sections with changedmaterial thickness act as hinges.